Weight operated switch



Sept. 30, 1947. w, S S 2,428,246

WEIGHT OPERATED SWITCH Filed May 9, 1945 I In ventor THOMAS w SC/FRES Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,428,246 7 WETGHTI OPERATED swrron Thomas W. Scifres, Dumas, Ark.v 1 A lication May 9,1945, Serial No. 592,889

This invention relates to an indicator, and

the gin from the vehicle carrying the cotton too rapidly or too slowly.

As conducive to a clear understanding of this invention, it may here be pointed out that in operating cotton gins the vehicles bringing the cotton to the gin are unloaded by means of a vacuum tube, which extends outside of the building within which the gin is located, and the operator of this tube has no way of knowing whether he is feeding the cotton too fast or too slowly. When the cotton is fedtoo fast, the excess spills over onto the floor beyond the last bin, and this excess cotton must be re-fed through a different branch line of the tube causing extra Work and extra cost of handling. If, conversely, the cotton is fed too slowly, the last gin under the distributor runs idle, thus losing valuable time and costing extra money.

A primary object of this invention, therefore, is the provision of means adapted to energize a visible or audible signal to indicate to the operator Whether the cotton is being fed too rapidly or too slowly in such manner that he may re ulate the speed in an even manner so that all the bins are continuously fed cotton.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an improved switch mechanism for such an indicator adapted to be operated by the pressure of cotton fed into a bin, and preferably positioned in the last bin of the aligned gins away from the end of the gin building in which the cotton is fed.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and install,

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is illus-,

ZCIaimS; 7 (Q1. 20085) 2 I vice in Figure 1, certain portions thereof being broken away.

Figure 3 is an end front view of the device, certain portions thereof being broken away.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, certain positions of adjustment thereof being indicated by dotted lines.

Similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is shown at if] a base block'provided with a cen- Wally disposed elongated aperture H, the base block i0 being comprised of a suitable insulating material such as wood or the like, and adap to be positioned on the wall of a bin in association with a cotton gin, and preferably the last bin in line away from the feeding tube into the gin. A pair of suitable strip members l2 provided with centrally disposed indentations I3 to form journals are secured, as by screws M, to the base block [0 adjacent the aperture H. The journal 13 support the extremities of a transverse pin l5 to which is secured a rod 16, provided with a depending portion I! and extending inwardly through the opening H and a suitable registering opening in the wall of an adjacent bin.

The inner end of the member 16 has secured thereto a block N3 of suitable insulating material from which extends a pin 19 to which is secured the central portion of a chain 20. The extremities of the chain 20 are secured to extending portions 2! of a transverse bar 22 secured, as by screws 23, to the base block In. The bar 22, its extending portions 2| and the chain 20 are all comprised of a suitable conductor of electricity, and are connected, as by a lead wire 24, into an electrical circuit.

Extending transversely across the base block Ill above the aperture I I i a second transverse bar 25, also of suitable conductive material, the securing means taking the form of screws 26. Bar 25 is likewise provided with extending portions 21, from which depends a chain 28, the arrangement being such that the central depending portion of the chain 28 extends to a position substantially in alignment with the top of the aperture II, and, when the device is in normal position, well above the pin IS. A suitable wire 29 extends from the bar 25 and forms a continuation of the circuit which includes the wire 24.

A cover member 30 may be provided for the assemblage and secured thereto in any desired manner, as by means of screws 3|, if desired.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should be readily understandable. When the gin is not running, and no cotton is being fed thereinto, the Weight of the chain 20 is sufficient to retain the parts in the position shown in Figure 3, that is, with the bar IS in substantially horizontal position, and the pin 19 out of contact with the chain 28, thus breaking any possible electrical circuit between the bars 22 and 25.

When, however, cotton is flowing into the gin with which the indicator is associated and strikes the depending portion H, the relatively slight weight thereof is sufficient to tilt the parts to the position disclosed in dotted lines in Figure 4, whereupon the pin l9 contacts the depending central portion of the chain 28 and closes the circuit between the conductors 24, 25. This circuit may be associated with any desired form of indicator such as a light, or lights, located at a suitable remote point, preferably within sight of the operator of the vacuum tube unloading the cotton, and the arrangement is such that when the light is out, the operator will know that no cotton is being fed into the last bin and increase the speed of the feed thereof, and conversely, when the light is on, that the last bin is receiving cotton and the speed of the feed thereof may decrease in order to prevent overflow.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device accomplishing all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as merely illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A load indicating switch comprising, a base having an aperture therethrough, a bar extending through said aperture, a pin carried by said bar and insulated therefrom, a chain having an intermediate point thereof secured to said pin, a transverse support member comprising a portion of an electric circuit positioned below said pin, the ends of said chain being secured to said support member and the weight of said chain serving normally to depress the inner end of said bar, and a contact in said circut adapted to be engaged by said pin when the outer end of said bar is depressed by an external weight to close said circuit.

2,-A load indicating switch comprising, a base having an aperture therethrough, a bar extending through said aperture, 2. pin carried by said bar and insulated therefrom, a chain having an intermediate point secured to said pin, a transverse support member comprising a portion of an electric circuit positioned below said pin, the ends of said chain being secured to said support member and the weight of said chain serving normally to depress the inner end of said bar, a contact in said circuit adapted to be engaged by said pin when the outer end of said bar is depressed by an external weight to close said circuit, a terminal member secured to said base, said contact comprising a depending chain normally positioned out of contact with said pin, the mid point of said chain extending adjacent said pin and the ends thereof being secured to said terminal member.

THOMAS W. SCIFRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,121,651 Claytor June 21, 1933 2,260,992 Henry Oct. 28, 1941 2,131,305 Shaw Sept. 27, 1938 2,286,144 Lien June 9, 1942 1,549,967 Grindle Aug. 18, 1925 1,907,089 Pabst, Jr. May 2, 1933 

